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In the year since it first launched, www.drugcocktails.ca has provided safe and accurate information about the effects of mixing prescription medications and street drugs.
Clinical pharmacist and project lead Dr. Dean Elbe led his team to tackle the first-of-its-kind website as it addressed a critical gap for youth and health care professionals – that there was no single credible source for drug interactions and substances of abuse.
While there are health risks for substance abuse of any kind, there is further risk for youth taking prescription medication, which can make for more unpredictable outcomes.
The website provides youth and health care professionals with unbiased and medically accurate information about mixing illicit drugs, caffeine, alcohol and tobacco with over 200 prescription medications. The website has a large search bar, as well as 10 categories of drugs: Alcohol, Tobacco, Caffeine, Cannabis/Hash, Cocaine/Crack, Opioids, Amphetamines/ Stimulants, Phencyclidine/Ketamine, LSD/ Hallucinogens, and Benzodiazepines.
The website offers anonymity for those searching more information, and has a “Hide This Site” button where users can quickly exit the screen if needed. It features two interactive sections: one for youth and the other for health care professionals (free registration is required).
In an email to the College, Children’s Hospital colleague Dr. Kathleen Collin wrote
I’m writing to recommend my colleague receive some recognition for the exemplary work he as a clinical pharmacist…particularly for his development of drugcocktails.ca. Dean deserves recognition for his excellent contributions to our profession.
DrugCocktails.ca was funded by BC Mental Health & Addiction Services (BCMHAS), an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). It was developed in partnership with researchers from BCMHAS, BC Children’s Hospital Pharmacy Department and Youth Health Program, PHSA, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the University of Ottawa.
Want to recognize a colleague or team accomplishment? Send an email to [email protected] with READLINKS in the subject header.
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